Nov 2006
Local news ratings and much more
11/30/06 03:55 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
NBC5's already emaciated sports
department took another big hit this week. And the
D-FW ratings "sweeps" results are in. Your
destination is the Dallas-Fort Worth
TV page, the most accurate, objective source
for local news developments. Coming soon:
Unclebarky.com's first local news All-Star team
and a look at some eye-opening gender disparities
in local news viewing.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
|
Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from
Night 19
11/29/06 05:14 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Having an Arctic Blast yet? Your local
news stations already are. Check out their cold wars
on 10 p.m.'s Tuesday night newscasts. And see whether
the new ABC series Big Day had anything of the
sort in D-FW. Ready, set, go to the Dallas-Fort Worth
TV page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Lights gets a new night
11/29/06 04:07 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
NBC's made-in-Austin Friday Night LIghts will move from Tuesdays to Wednesdays in January as part of a midseason shakeup of the Peacock's prime-time lineup.
And NBC will fill the vacancy left by Sunday Night Football with a foursome of Dateline NBC, the new reality series Grease: You're the One That I Want, a fifth edition of The Apprentice and Crossing Jordan.
Lights, struggling in the ratings as Tuesday's leadoff hitter, will get Wednesday nights started for NBC, beginning on Jan. 10. The season began with two new comedies, 30 Rock and Twenty Good Years, in that slot. The latter was quickly canceled, while 30 Rock has been on Thursdays at 8:30 central (9:30 eastern) since earlier this month.
Lights, the saga of a high school football team in fictional Dillon, Texas, has a full-season pickup from NBC, as does another slow-builder, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. NBC will keep Studio in place on Mondays at 9 central (10 eastern).
NBC's made-in-Austin Friday Night LIghts will move from Tuesdays to Wednesdays in January as part of a midseason shakeup of the Peacock's prime-time lineup.
And NBC will fill the vacancy left by Sunday Night Football with a foursome of Dateline NBC, the new reality series Grease: You're the One That I Want, a fifth edition of The Apprentice and Crossing Jordan.
Lights, struggling in the ratings as Tuesday's leadoff hitter, will get Wednesday nights started for NBC, beginning on Jan. 10. The season began with two new comedies, 30 Rock and Twenty Good Years, in that slot. The latter was quickly canceled, while 30 Rock has been on Thursdays at 8:30 central (9:30 eastern) since earlier this month.
Lights, the saga of a high school football team in fictional Dillon, Texas, has a full-season pickup from NBC, as does another slow-builder, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. NBC will keep Studio in place on Mondays at 9 central (10 eastern).
Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from
Night 18
11/28/06 07:30 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Which D-FW sports anchor is speaking
out, at least slightly, about the way his station is
misusing him? Did Prison Break's Monday night
fall finale do any better here than previous
episodes? And how about that ding-dong 10 p.m.
ratings battle between the worst newscast in town and
a station that often plays copycat? Your only source
is the Dallas-Fort Worth
page, where you'll always get everything
straight.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
"Chloe" and Rush: K-i-s-s-i-n-g
11/27/06 08:19 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Planting a seed: Rush Limbaugh mostly just lips off. But this time not so much with Mary-Lynn Rajskub of 24. She has an explanation.
Pecks on the cheek or air kisses apparently aren't Rush Limbaugh's style. Instead he went whole-hog at a recent terrorism panel sponsored by the Heritage Foundation. The guns 'n' butter conservative hit actress Mary-Lynn Rajskub with his best shot in a moment captured by Getty Images. Rajskub, who plays ever-vexed counter-terrorism agent Chloe O'Brian on Fox's 24, says Limbaugh caught her unprepared.
"He said hello to everyone and kissed me on the lips," Rajskub tells FHM magazine. "I was like, 'Oh, that was odd.' Then the picture was on the Internet and people thought I was going out with him."
Not true. Limbaugh was moderating the panel and Rajskub, who only plays a counter-terrorism agent, was asked to be on it.
"He's brilliant and hilarious," she said. "But I wouldn't say I wanted to get it on with him."
Ed Bark
Some changes we hope you'll like
11/26/06 11:05 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Back on track after a Thanksgiving
respite, unclebarky.com has added three new pages to
keep you clicking. TV Bulletin Board
will briefly take note of TV's latest additions,
subtractions, etc. Making a List gives you
some Top 10, TV-related countdowns to chew and
comment on. And Ask Uncle Barky is a
chance to do just that. What would you like to
know about your favorite TV shows, stars, etc.?
Each new page has something to get you started, so please take a look. We've also archived the Fall Preview columns on the Network News & Reviews page for anyone who'd still like to see what our opinions were when all those new series first aired.
Also, the 10 p.m. local newscast reviews will resume on Tuesday with up-close and objective looks at the final three weeknights of the November "sweeps." We're skipping last week's Wednesday through Friday newscasts in deference to a holiday break. Even your faithful content provider has to recharge at times.
Ed Bark
Each new page has something to get you started, so please take a look. We've also archived the Fall Preview columns on the Network News & Reviews page for anyone who'd still like to see what our opinions were when all those new series first aired.
Also, the 10 p.m. local newscast reviews will resume on Tuesday with up-close and objective looks at the final three weeknights of the November "sweeps." We're skipping last week's Wednesday through Friday newscasts in deference to a holiday break. Even your faithful content provider has to recharge at times.
Ed Bark
Sarah Dodd & Chief Kunkle: K-i-s-s-i-n-g
11/22/06 05:17 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
In Unfair Park, Robert Wilonsky
reports that CBS11 reporter Sarah Dodd and Dallas
police chief David Kunkle were spotted picking up
rings for their Dec. 8 wedding. Uncle Barky wishes
both parties lots of joy and all that stuff. But
unlike Wilonsky, there's no expectation of an
invitation. That is, unless they like guys with
fake, squirting flowers on their cheap sportcoat
lapels.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from
Night 14
11/22/06 04:54 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
What were the NBC5 and Belo8 ladies of
the night up to this time? And where do your favorite
D-FW newscasts rate after 14 days of the 20-day
November "sweeps?" Go to your friendly Dallas-Fort Worth TV page for these
scoops. Plus, our national pages always have
plenty to look at, too. Happy Thanksgiving
everyone, and thanks for your continued support.
With your kind permission, as Sammy Davis Jr. used
to say, we'll now be taking a few needed days off
before returning this weekend.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up close and objective: Sweeps ups and downs from
Night 13
11/21/06 06:22 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Don't look back, NBC5. Belo8 is
gaining on you at 10 p.m. But why? Check out Monday's
D-FW ratings highlights and then swerve through the
latest batch of local late nighters. Your destination
is Dallas-Fort Worth TV, the only
place in town with hard looks at what's making
news in the country's 6th largest market. It's
also your only public forum. Let's hear your
comments, too.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Prison Break: Back before you know it
11/21/06 09:16 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
It'll be a relatively short break this
time for Prison Break, which has its "fall
finale" on Monday, Nov. 27. Fox's ultimate escapist
drama, being filmed entirely in North Texas, then
will return on Monday, Jan. 22 with a recap of Season
2's first 13 episodes. New shows, without repeats,
are set to resume on Jan. 29. In its first season,
PB was off the air from Nov. 28 to March 20.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Michael Richards apologizes for racial epithets on
Letterman show, with Jerry Seinfeld as
go-between
11/20/06 10:12 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Michael Richards' racially charged
response to a black heckler jarred those who know him
well. At longtime pal Jerry Seinfeld's behest,
Richards appeared via satellite on Monday's Late
Show with David Letterman to apologize for the
n-word-laced "crap" he spewed at a comedy club.
Seinfeld previously had been booked in connection
with the release of Seinfeld's 7th season on
DVD. A partial video of the apology can be seen
here, but first you'll have to sit
through a commercial. One of those in the
cbsnews.com rotation is for a mouthwash. Fitting.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Fox dumps Simpson specials, book
11/20/06 03:32 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
Facing a firestorm of criticism and the prospect of no advertisers, Fox announced Monday it is dropping all ties to O.J. Simpson.
That includes two announced prime-time specials tied to his book If I Did It, which Fox now says it won't publish. News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch, who presides over the Fox communications empire, took the unusual step of issuing a personal statement.
"I and senior management agree with the American public that this was an ill-considered project," he said. "We are sorry for any pain this has caused the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown-Simpson.
Fox had planned to televise the Simpson specials on Monday and Wednesday of next week, with his book's publisher Judith Regan, doing the Q & A. Fox vice president of alternative programming Mike Darnell billed it as "an interview that no one thought would ever happen. It's the definitive last chapter in the Trial of the Century."
Simpson, in the words of a Fox press release, would be telling for the first time "how he would have committed the murders if he were the one responsible for the crimes."
Virtually no one thought this was a good idea, including prominent Fox personalities Bill O'Reilly and Geraldo Rivera, who denounced Simpson and Fox's partnership with him on their shows. Earlier Monday, before the announcement, unclebarky.com detailed why the specials likely wouldn't air -- and why they shouldn't. You can read that commentary next on this page.
Facing a firestorm of criticism and the prospect of no advertisers, Fox announced Monday it is dropping all ties to O.J. Simpson.
That includes two announced prime-time specials tied to his book If I Did It, which Fox now says it won't publish. News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch, who presides over the Fox communications empire, took the unusual step of issuing a personal statement.
"I and senior management agree with the American public that this was an ill-considered project," he said. "We are sorry for any pain this has caused the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown-Simpson.
Fox had planned to televise the Simpson specials on Monday and Wednesday of next week, with his book's publisher Judith Regan, doing the Q & A. Fox vice president of alternative programming Mike Darnell billed it as "an interview that no one thought would ever happen. It's the definitive last chapter in the Trial of the Century."
Simpson, in the words of a Fox press release, would be telling for the first time "how he would have committed the murders if he were the one responsible for the crimes."
Virtually no one thought this was a good idea, including prominent Fox personalities Bill O'Reilly and Geraldo Rivera, who denounced Simpson and Fox's partnership with him on their shows. Earlier Monday, before the announcement, unclebarky.com detailed why the specials likely wouldn't air -- and why they shouldn't. You can read that commentary next on this page.
Memo to Fox: Take the air out of O.J. interviews
11/20/06 09:37 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
Fox still has ample time to mercy-kill next week's planned O.J. Simpson specials.
Criminally scheduled for Monday and Wednesday, O.J. Simpson: If I Did It, Here's How It Happened has put the not always high-aiming network in an indefensible position. It's been wall-to-wall denouncement since last Tuesday's announcement. Leading the charge are two of Fox's biggest stars, Bill O'Reilly and Geraldo Rivera.
O'Reilly, the most-watched personality on cable's Fox News Channel, has urged viewers of The O'Reilly Factor to follow his lead in not watching the specials and shunning any products advertised during them.
"If any company sponsors the TV program, I will not buy anything that company sells -- ever," O'Reilly vowed. He also predicted, "I don't think they're going to be able to sell one spot on that program."
Rivera, opining on Fox's syndicated Geraldo At Large, called Simpson a "smug pig" and a "punk."
"I'm ashamed to say that Simpson is being paid $3.5 million by Regan Books and by Harper Collins, sister companies to the one that produces this program, for the book and related television interviews," he said.
On CNN's Reliable Sources Sunday, host Howard Kurtz kept wringing his hands over whether to even talk about Simpson's deal with Fox. But he did, of course, leading his program with withering criticism from four guests, including CNN's former O.J. trial commentator, Roger Cossack. He called the Simpson specials "true pornography" before urging rabbis, priests and ministers to tell their congregations "why you shouldn't watch this."
Then again, "I think we're all guilty in some way of promoting this," Cossack said.
Let's step back to look at the dollars and cents realities. The entire country could watch the Simpson specials without Fox profiting monetarily. No matter how large the audience, a network can't make money without advertisers on board.
Rivera should know this better than anyone. On October 25, 1988, he presented his first prime-time special under a new deal with NBC. But his grisly two-hour Devil Worship: Exploring Satan's Underground left advertisers cold. The program went almost entirely unsponsored, but had a big enough audience to rank among the top five programs for that week. This prompted NBC entertainment president Brandon Tartikoff to quickly sever ties with Rivera while ripping him in public as well. Without advertisers, a big Nielsen rating isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
NBC encountered a similar problem earlier this year with The Book of Daniel, a provocative drama series about a troubled Episcopal priest. When advertisers bailed, so did the Peacock. Immediately.
O'Reilly almost surely is right in deducing that advertisers will stay well clear of the Simpson specials. Why would any company in its right mind want to be associated with them? Given that likelihood, what's the upside for Fox? Maybe a few more companion Simpson books will be sold. But that's hardly worth the huge hits Fox otherwise will take, both financially and to its image. A network that's about to put its best foot forward again with 24 and American Idol should be mindful of polluting its overall atmosphere.
It's hoped that Fox will reach these same conclusions. Write these Simpson specials off as a very bad idea and admit as much. You're already the network of The Simpsons. So why not substitute a few reruns of Homer and brood next week? You'll be glad you did.
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 12
11/19/06 10:34 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
A half-goat, half-man monster tale and
an embarrassing update of a hard-to-swallow soft
drink story blighted one D-FW station's Friday 10
p.m. newscast. Meanwhile, it was purse peril as usual
on another news purveyor. Risk dying of boredom
unless you read all about it on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. And if
you haven't seen it yet, scroll down a bit here
for video of that much-talked-about Dale Hansen
tiff late last month.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Dale gets mad as hell
11/17/06 06:15 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Readers keep asking about that Oct. 27
Dale Hansen meltdown on Belo8's 10 p.m. newscast. I
didn't see it at the time, but the video since has
made its way to you-know-where. Frankly, I can see
why Hansen went off. Anchor John McCaa stole his
thunder on a rare night when Hansen actually wanted
to talk a little baseball. But what do you think?
Have a look. Ed Bark
An Uncle Barky shout-out to...
11/17/06 05:46 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 11
11/17/06 03:37 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Crime continues to pay on NBC5's 10
p.m. newscasts. How much so? Put yourself at risk on
the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page, where
you also can see how well Barbara Walters did
Thursday by reading unclebarky.com's daily local
ratings digest.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Britney gets an offer.
11/16/06 11:26 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 10
11/16/06 05:36 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
We're now halfway through the November
"sweeps." How did D-FW's 10 p.m. newscasts behave
themselves on Wednesday? Also, see whose news is
topping the ratings charts at 10 p.m., 6 a.m., and 5
and 6 p.m. We've got the up-to-date standings through
10 of the 20 weekdays. Your destination, as always,
is the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page, where
you'll also get local ratings for the finale of
ABC's Dancing with the Stars and the new
series Day Break.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Championship season: Sole mates Emmitt & Cheryl
win it all
11/15/06 10:57 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
An athlete's foot is usually used for running, kicking or sticking in one's mouth.
Former Dallas Cowboys great Emmitt Smith found a fourth use Wednesday night. His amazing feet spurred him to an amazing feat. The three-time Super Bowl champ became the third celebrity winner of ABC's top-of-the-charts Dancing with the Stars. No one picked him at the start and few picked him down the stretch, save for unclebarky.com on Oct. 24th. Back-pat accomplished.
"It is awesome! It is awesome!" Emmitt exulted, hugging pro partner Cheryl Burke and hoisting the show's suitably gaudy mirror ball trophy while confetti fell and a live audience roared to the sound of -- what else -- Queen's "We Are the Champions."
Don't scoff. Emmitt threw himself into this competition, both taking it seriously and having a ball with it. He fought through nicknames such as Twinkletoes, The Big Easy and Sir Shimmy to eventually prevail over younger, quicker, slicker Mario Lopez. His high-beam smile and work ethic in the end counted for more than Mario's big divot dimples and flash-dance style. Yes, this is a dance competition. But it's also a personality contest, and in that respect Emmitt may have played his greatest game. He won on the strength of a final viewer vote-in after the two competitors tied with overall 89 scores in Tuesday's three-pronged dance-off.
None of his former Cowboys teammates or owner Jerry Jones could be seen in the audience for Wednesday's live finale. But Troy Aikman popped up in a videotape to tell America, "He may win this thing. And if that happens, I don't think any of us are going to give him a hard time."
Emmitt's biggest fan was his wife, Patricia, who sat in the peanut gallery week after week. On the last two shows, she was joined by the couple's two oldest daughters. They got to see Dad dance the samba and mambo Tuesday night before capping it off with an old-school freestyle turn to the tune of MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This."
His partner, Cheryl, also guided and glided Drew Lachey to victory on last season's Dancing. They seemed to form quite an attachment, with Cheryl telling Emmitt in a pre-taped segment, "No matter what happens tonight, you are my true champion. And you will always be No. 1."
Emmitt later told her, "I'm your big bull." She good-naturedly declined to be his "little bull," but let's not take it any further than that. This clearly was a platonic partnership that clicked whenever they had to floor it. She led the way, he followed. In an earlier arena, that was Daryl "Moose" Johnston's job.
No longer seen as just a jock, Emmitt now can reap the dividends of being America's newest huggy bear. Endorsement opportunities have opened wide -- at least for a while. Madison Avenue should be dancing in the streets. They've got a new go-to guy who's light on his feet and easy to like.
Even better, he's a proven winner who hoofed and puffed and blew everybody away on dancing's biggest stage. That's called stepping up.
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 9
11/15/06 04:03 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
What's your over-under on how many
times Belo8 replayed Bob Knight's chin music during
Tuesday's 10 p.m. newscast? The results may shock
you, as they say in the biz. Also see how Dancing
With the Stars did in the local Nielsens. It's
all here again for you on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page, the only
place in town to find full coverage of local TV
news.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Lost takes a long vacation. Will Day
Break hold its audience?
11/15/06 10:45 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
ABC's grand plan to replace
Lost with Day Break for 13 weeks begins
taking shape Wednesday night. You can read a review
of the new show's two-hour pilot on the Fall TV Preview page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Toe-ing zone: Emmitt & Mario take their last
steps
11/14/06 08:33 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
It's all over but the ballot-stuffing. Emmitt Smith and Mario Lopez each fell one point shy of perfect Tuesday night, matching 89 scores on the high-voltage Dancing with the Stars performance finale.
That leaves Wednesday night's verdict up to viewers, with an audience in excess of 25 million expected to see whether the brawny lad or the dimpled Gumby dance off with the show's worthless yet priceless mirror ball trophy. Dancing schmancing. Who's got the bigger, more motivated fan base? Fingers don't fail them now.
Host Tom Bergeron downplayed the stakes at hand, telling viewers, "Forget what you thought about ballroom, because tonight it's all-out war!" Ok, he up-played it.
Then it was up to Emmitt and partner Cheryl Burke to safely but flashily navigate the samba, the mambo and a climactic freestyle. Said he: "Mario, you've set the bar very high, and I'm comin' after you."
But Mario and partner Karina Smirnoff scored the bigger finish. He can do what Emmitt can't -- break dance and flit. Emmitt in turn did some heavier lifting after promising to also do some "rockin' and shockin.' " But hyper judge Bruno Tonioli marked him down a point for allegedly shaking a bit during Lift 2. That left the ex-Cowboys great with a closing 29 while Mario rang up a 30 for what judge Carrie Ann Inaba called "the best dance that I have seen this whole season."
Finicky elder statesman Len Goodman gushed, too: "If that dance was a film, you'd win an Oscar."
Still, as predicted here three weeks ago, Emmitt will win. His great equalizer is something else that Inaba said after his first go-around Tuesday night: "You are the everyday man who became a dancer before our very eyes."
People respond to that, even if Emmitt also is an everyday millionaire. Tonioli had a reliably more colorful way of putting it: "You drive people crazy, just with the twinkles in your eyes," he told Emmitt. "And you've got the twinkles in your toes to go with it."
Then it got a little out of hand when co-host Samantha Harris gazed upon his bright green samba shoes and said, "Emmitt looks so magically delicious."
Two of his three young daughters were in the audience for the first time. But none of Emmitt's ex-Cowboys teammates or owner Jerry Jones could be seen cheering him on. Sorry, Jerry, the seating scheme doesn't include an owner's box. But you really should be there for a Cowboy who's had the balls to jump out of his comfort zone and onto a hardwood dance floor in an array of tuxedos, vests and glitter shirts.
"Now people see me as a ballroom dancer, which is --- strange," he said before mambo-ing. "But I'll always be a football player."
Wednesday will tell whether he'll be stopped just short of the goal line in dancing's version of the Super Bowl.
Now in play: HDNet on North Texas cable systems.
11/14/06 05:32 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Just in time for the debut of Dan
Rather Reports, Time Warner Cable announced early
Tuesday evening that it's added Mark Cuban's HDNet to
North Texas cable systems, including Dallas.
Those with compatible TV sets immediately can get HDNet on digital Channel 795 or 671, depending on location. Rather's one-hour news program is scheduled to premiere at 7 p.m. central time on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Ed Bark
Those with compatible TV sets immediately can get HDNet on digital Channel 795 or 671, depending on location. Rather's one-hour news program is scheduled to premiere at 7 p.m. central time on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Ed Bark
The Simpsons, now The Simpson
11/14/06 04:57 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Reprehensible or not, here it comes. Plugging his new book, If I Did It, O.J. Simpson will get two hours of Fox's prime-time to talk about the more than decade-old murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
Simpson's interviewer, in one-hour doses on Nov. 27 and 29, will be publisher Judith Regan. She also happens to be putting out his book. The specials are tactlessly titled O.J. Simpson: If I Did It, Here's How It Happened.
Fox has presented some embarrasements in the past, including an icy, awkwardly staged 1998 reunion of figure skaters Tony Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. But this may be its all-time bottom-feeder, even though Fox executive vp of alternative programming Mike Darnell is primed to see it otherwise.
"This is an interview that no one thought would ever happen," he said in a statement Tuesday. "It's the definitive last chapter in the Trial of the Century."
Simpson was found not guilty of the murders in criminal court, but a civil court later ordered him to pay $33.5 million in restitution to the victims' families. Whatever he receives for his Fox appearances should go directly to them.
Ed Bark
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 8
11/14/06 04:30 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Here we go again with Night 8 of the
20-night November "sweeps" ratings period. This time
we're looking at what's a story -- and what shouldn't
be -- on the four 10 p.m. local newscasts. You also
can check out the latest local ratings highlights on
the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. And look
for unclebarky.com's true-blue Dancing with the
Stars blog later tonight in this space.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Rather and Shatner: Never say die
11/14/06 12:09 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
Still kicking, 75-year-old icons Dan
Rather and William Shatner take the stage in new
ventures Tuesday night. See what Dan's doing on the
Network News & Reviews page.
And you'll find Shat and his dancing girls over at
Fall TV Preview.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
NBC sees the Lights
11/13/06 08:23 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
NBC has become a team player with its
low-rated but critically acclaimed new series. The
network gave Austin-made Friday Night Lights a
surprising but gratifying full-season pickup Monday
after doing the same with Studio 60 on the Sunset
Strip last week.
"We're proud to reward an authentic, poignant series with a full-season order, demonstrating our confidence in its appeal and quality," NBC entertainment president Kevin Reilly said of Friday Night LIghts.
ABC also has picked up What About Brian for at least the rest of this season.
Ed Bark
"We're proud to reward an authentic, poignant series with a full-season order, demonstrating our confidence in its appeal and quality," NBC entertainment president Kevin Reilly said of Friday Night LIghts.
ABC also has picked up What About Brian for at least the rest of this season.
Ed Bark
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 7
11/13/06 04:04 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Which station threw viewers for a loss
on those previously secret blueprints for the
Cowboys' new stadium? And where do Belo8's anchors
and weatherman stand on the meaty topic of whether a
burrito can be called a sandwich? Also see the latest
local Nielsen rating scorecards on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
60 Minutes gives Ed Bradley the time of his
life
11/12/06 10:14 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
CBS' 60 Minutes bade goodnight
to Ed Bradley Sunday, devoting a full hour to what
made him tick. Where does Bradley rank among
television's all-time influential African-Americans?
And what was he doing wearing a gas mask on a
long-ago presidential campaign stop that gave a then
young newspaper reporter something to write home
about? Comment on the top 10 list and read about
Bradley's little-known gambit on the Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Charlie & the Cheerleaders
11/10/06 05:31 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
ABC's World News and anchor
Charles Gibson will take a swing through Texas next
week, with the broadcast originating from Dallas on
Monday and Houston on Tuesday.
ABC says Gibson will report from Dallas on "boom times" for the oil and gas industry, with a rush to drill "even in suburban neighborhoods."
Also, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are set to take TV viewers on a "whirlwind tour" of Texas real estate on HGTV's House Hunters (9 p.m. central, 10 eastern). Beginning Monday and continuing through Friday, the DCCs will showcase properties in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Canton during the show's "Texas Week."
Ed Bark
ABC says Gibson will report from Dallas on "boom times" for the oil and gas industry, with a rush to drill "even in suburban neighborhoods."
Also, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are set to take TV viewers on a "whirlwind tour" of Texas real estate on HGTV's House Hunters (9 p.m. central, 10 eastern). Beginning Monday and continuing through Friday, the DCCs will showcase properties in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Canton during the show's "Texas Week."
Ed Bark
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 6
11/10/06 04:35 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Unclebarky.com's vigilance continues
with detailed looks at Night 6 of the November
"sweeps"-juiced 10 p.m. newscasts. You'll also get
Thursday's latest ratings picture on the Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Don't make him laugh: Koppel on Kerry
11/09/06 06:28 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Ted Koppel talks about John Kerry,
humorist, in a telephone interview with
unclebarky.com. It serves as an appetizer while the
former Nightline mainstay readies a Nov. 19
Discovery Channel documentary titled Iran -- The
Most Dangerous Nation. Go the extra smile to the
Network News & Reviews page.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and down from
Night 5
11/09/06 05:41 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
What's Belo8's Dale Hansen saying
about Terrell Owens, and is he out of bounds this
time? And which local 10 p.m. newscast led with
Wednesday's tumultuous events in Washington while the
three others opted for another round of bad things
happening to area residents? Also check out the
latest local ratings highlights. It's all in play on
unclebarky.com's trusty Dallas-Fort Worth TV page.
Goal to go: Emmitt vs. Mario on Dancing's
finale
11/08/06 08:02 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
The pile driver vs. the heartthrob. Sir Shimmy against Super Mario. Manly Man takes on Boy Wonder.
Whatever your take, Emmitt Smith is going to ballroom dancing's version of the Super Bowl, where he'll battle the favored Mario Lopez. Dancing with the Stars' top two sole men will floor it live next Tuesday before an audience that likely will top 25 million. It'll be one helluva hot ticket, lemme tell ya. Just don't let Paris Hilton in.
Cripes, Uncle Barky, towel off and stop delaying the inevitable. OK, I was wrong in predicting that Joey Lawrence would sneak past Mario into the finals. Had a hunch and it didn't pay off. But I've had Emmitt tabbed to win the whole thing since the Oct. 24th show, so let's see if the NFL's all-time leading rusher can juke Mario and make it to the show's end zone.
"This is why you enter a competition, so you can hopefully have a chance to fight for No. 1," Emmitt said Wednesday night.
His partner, Cheryl Burke, has been there before. She teamed with Drew Lachey to win last season's mirror ball trophy, symbolic of bad craftsmanship. Every trophy takes on an aura of its own, though, so they could be battling for a pair of fluffy wabbit slippers and it wouldn't matter. Emmitt's adrenalin pump will be primed to Super Bowl proportions when he goes against the show's double-dimpled Gumby doll.
He's got at least one big celebrity in his corner. Rachael Ray, who's been in the audience for at least one show, let it be known Wednesday night that "I want Emmitt to win. He's so smooth."
On the other hand, Jimmy Kimmel says uh-uh. Emmitt has as much a chance of going all the way as Joey does of rushing for 1,000 yards in the NFL, he said.
So there you have it. Longshot Emmitt goes toe to toe with hotshot Mario. Power vs. Speedo. Dallas against Southern Cal.
A big contingent of Emmitt's old Cowboys teammates should be man enough to be there for him. If not, at least send flowers.
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 4
11/08/06 02:35 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
The election returns are in on
unclebarky.com. Which stations' 10 p.m. newscasts
excelled? What station managed to mess up the
governor's race results? And what happened to all
those NBC5 reporters? Read all about it on the
Dallas-Fort Worth TV page, where
you'll also find Tuesday's local Nielsen ratings
report.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Dancing does a three-way: Everybody gets a 30
11/07/06 08:32 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
Ok, let's do the equivalent of a minuet at a barn dance in predicting a shocking development on ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
As predicted two weeks ago, Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke (above doing the fox trot and rumba last week) will win the show's ridiculous but treasured mirror ball trophy. But they'll defeat Joey Lawrence and Edyta Sliwinska in next week's finale, not the favored Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff. Follow my lead if you would. I'll try not to step on your toes.
All three couples scored a combined 59 out of 60 Tuesday night, with each recording a perfect 30 for the first time. That renders the judges' scores inoperative and leaves it up to viewers' phone-in and online votes. That's where Mario may have made his big mistake while pal Joey played to the show's older crowd.
Look at it this way. More than one-quarter of the audience for Dancing is over 65 years of age, according to Nielsen Media Research. Which of these two performances do you think they might have preferred?
Joey dedicated the quick step to his World War II veteran grandfather. He wore a tricked-up U.S Navy outfit with SS Shaw on his sailor hat while dancing to "42nd Street." After a closing salute, he told co-host Samantha Harris that his uncle had died in WWII.
Mario on the other hand did a cha cha cha to Michael Jackson's "Bad." Let's just say that's not a particularly good association down the homestretch. Nor was it wise for Mario to then tell Harris, "I grew up loving Michael Jackson. I think every kid in my generation did." We pause now to ponder the ick factor.
The great unknown is whether the show's pivotal older viewer bloc is voting with the same zeal and dexterity as younger viewers. Maybe not. But I'm betting that Joey's golly gee demeanor and WWII gambit launched a groundswell for him. He says "awesome" too much, but you just know that he'd also walk your grandma across the street. Plus, Joey also had the line of the night, describing the semi-finals as a matchup of "two bald heads and a pair of dimples."
Meanwhile, Emmitt rose to two occasions --- the waltz and the cha cha cha. For the latter, he joined Cheryl in singing "Ride Sally Ride" while they both twirled their right arms overhead. It was the night's signature moment, with growingly tiresome judge Carrie Ann Inaba trilling and twirling "Ride, Emmitt, ride!" before joining the other judges in awarding a perfect 10.
Their waltz had judge Bruno Tonioli up on his hind legs. "You're turning into an American wonder! It's like the Grand Canyon!" he blurted.
Emmitt and Cheryl earlier "campaigned" for votes (the show had an election night motif) by visiting the Texas Motor Speedway over the weekend.
"We ask that you continue to vote for us," he urged the large crowd before commanding the drivers to "Start your engines."
He's in overdrive, too.
"This is like the NFC championship game," Emmitt said. "I don't like to lose. I don't like to lose."
He smiled when he said that. That's another part of his appeal.
YouTube shoots, scores(?)
11/07/06 04:11 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 3
11/07/06 01:32 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Our detailed look at what kind of TV
news you're getting at 10 p.m. continues with Night 3
of the November "sweeps." How did the four local
combatants handle -- or mishandle -- President Bush's
election eve stop in Dallas? And why was Gloria
Campos so revved up again? Your venue is Dallas-Fort Worth TV. Also scroll
down to see how the newscasts did in Monday's
Nielsen ratings. What you'll find -- dare it be
said -- may shock you.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
From Dan to Katie: No more cornpone
11/06/06 12:48 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
Katie Couric will make more history Tuesday by becoming the first woman to solo anchor prime-time election coverage. She'll have ample help on CBS from old hand Bob Schieffer.
Meanwhile, the deposed Dan Rather, is set to sit out his first election night since the Paleolithic period, although he will appear with fake news anchor Jon Stewart in the first half of Comedy Central's one-hour Indecision 2006 special (10 central, 11 eastern). Rather otherwise is waiting until Nov. 14 to debut the weekly Dan Rather Reports on Mark Cuban's HDNet.
Cuban hasn't returned an email inquiry as to why he didn't put Rather back in the saddle on election night instead. All he'd really need is a desk and a computer hookup. Dan then could take it from there with a fresh crop of all-purpose "Dan-isms," some of which he might be able to aim at Stewart. Greasing the skiddle, unclebarky.com has thrown together this Top 10 list of personal favorites from election nights past:
10. "His lead is as thin as turnip soup."
9. "We need Billy Crystal to Analyze This."
8. "This presidential race is still hotter than a Laredo parking lot."
7. "This situation in Ohio would give aspirin a headache."
6. "This race is as tight as the rusted lug nuts on a '55 Ford."
5. "The election is closer than Lassie and Timmy."
4. "This race is shakier than cafeteria Jell-O."
3. "If a frog had sidepockets, he'd carry a handgun."
2. "When the going gets weird, anchormen punt."
1. "Frankly, we don't know whether to wind the watch or to bark at the moon."
Idol return date set
11/06/06 12:02 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
It's official. Fox won't risk shifting
any part of American Idol to Thursdays, where
the network is getting thrashed every week.
Instead the sixth edition of the mega-hit will premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 16 with a two-hour edition. Another two hours are scheduled for the following night before the show downshifts to one hour editions on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (central) and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Idol ventured to San Antonio, Los Angeles, New York City, Memphis, Birmingham, Minneapolis and Seattle in search for a champ to join previous winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks, whose first CD is due next month.
In early road trip shows, judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson will be joined by guest judges Olivia Newton John, Carol Bayer Sager and Jewel.
Ed Bark
Instead the sixth edition of the mega-hit will premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 16 with a two-hour edition. Another two hours are scheduled for the following night before the show downshifts to one hour editions on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (central) and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Idol ventured to San Antonio, Los Angeles, New York City, Memphis, Birmingham, Minneapolis and Seattle in search for a champ to join previous winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks, whose first CD is due next month.
In early road trip shows, judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson will be joined by guest judges Olivia Newton John, Carol Bayer Sager and Jewel.
Ed Bark
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 2
11/06/06 08:08 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
Our detailed look at what kind of news
you're getting at 10 p.m. continues with Night 2 of
the November "sweeps." Pant-pant, we'll be
telescoping all 20 weeknights of the four-week
ratings competition. No punches pulled, of course.
Check it out at Dallas-Fort Worth TV and share your
thoughts on unclebarky.com.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
The Rich doesn't get richer
11/03/06 06:20 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Fox's big-money game show, The Rich
List, has been pulled after just one episode. The
British import premiered to microscopic audiences on
Wednesday. Its replacement is The O.C., which
also will continue to run on Thursdays. Fox also
officially has canceled the freshman sitcom Happy
Hour, and will double-run Brad Garrett's 'Til
Death comedy instead.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Up close and objective: "Sweeps" ups and downs from
Night 1
11/03/06 02:10 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
The first in a series of close looks
at D-FW's 10 p.m. newscasts is now available on the
Dallas-Fort Worth TV page. Thursday
marked the opening of the four-week November
"sweeps," and it's time that local news gets the
attention it deserves in the country's
sixth-largest TV market. Scroll down on the same
page and you also can see how the four major TV
news providers fared in the first night Nielsen
ratings.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
Another tour du jour
11/02/06 04:37 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
Led by Dancing with the Stars
competitor Monique Coleman, here comes High School
Musical: The Concert to Dallas on Dec. 17.
The venue is American Airlines Center, where Monique and castmates will perform songs from the huge Disney Channel hit. Some also will have "breakout moments" onstage that have nothing to do with acne.
This means that Monique will not be part of the Dancing with the Stars tour, which starts on Dec. 19 and is not scheduled to stop in Dallas. Nor is Emmitt Smith participating.
Ed Bark
The venue is American Airlines Center, where Monique and castmates will perform songs from the huge Disney Channel hit. Some also will have "breakout moments" onstage that have nothing to do with acne.
This means that Monique will not be part of the Dancing with the Stars tour, which starts on Dec. 19 and is not scheduled to stop in Dallas. Nor is Emmitt Smith participating.
Ed Bark
Note to readers: Don't forget the archives
11/02/06 12:14 AM Ed Bark | Permalink
Dear unclebarky.com patrons. Some of
these pages might seem a bit barren right now. That's
because everything written in October is archived as
soon as something is posted in November. So if you're
new to the site or catching up, click on the October
or even the September archive on the right hand side
of pages. There's a wealth of material awaiting you,
much of it very recent. Feel free to scroll down
memory lane.
Ed Bark
Ed Bark
In with ease: Emmitt reaches semis
11/01/06 11:28 PM Ed Bark | Permalink
By ED BARK
Eight down, three couples to go, including Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke. They breezed to Dancing with the Stars' semi-finals Wednesday night, getting the word early in another ultra-padded results show.
Emmitt pronounced himself "extremely excited" to be on the precipice of going to Dancing's Super Bowl.
"It's nerve-wracking" waiting for the weekly verdicts, he said. "Performing is nothing. The results show is the toughest moment."
Eventually counted out was High School Musical co-star Monique Coleman, making it an all-male semi-final of Emmitt, Mario Lopez and Joey Lawrence. Jerry Jones, you need to be there -- in a special owner's box if that's what it takes.
Cheryl, on the winning team last season with Drew Lachey, said she'll keep her second partner loosey-goosey.
"For Emmitt, we have to keep having fun," she said. "Or else he has no chance of making it to the finals."
Their two Tuesday night dances received mixed reviews from Dancing's three judges. A fox trot got a modest 25 out of 30 points, but a smoother rumba nailed a 29. It's really all about viewers' votes, though, and Emmitt may well have a big enough fan base to survive just about anything but a rock-bottom judges' score. As predicted earlier, he's going to win this thing, in a final showdown with the Gumby-like Lopez.
"When you watch Emmitt Smith dance, the word that comes into my head is funky," said judge Len Goodman, the show's otherwise finicky elder statesman. "He is a true, cool dude."
Wow, next thing you know, Merv Griffin will be calling him a crazy cat. It goes with this new territory, Emmitt. But now there are just two more shows to go before you bring Dancing's oddly crafted silver trophy back home to Dallas for a ticker tape parade. Let's not announce a route ahead of time, though. That's been known to jinx things.